Impact of respiratory therapy in vital capacity and functionality of patients undergoing abdominal surgery / Impacto da fisioterapia respiratória na capacidade vital e na funcionalidade de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia abdominal

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the vital capacity after two chest therapy techniques in patients undergoing abdominal surgical. Methods A prospective randomized study carried out with patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit after abdominal surgery. We checked vital capacity, muscular strength using the Medical Research Council scale, and functionality with the Functional Independence Measure the first time the patient was breathing spontaneously (D1), and also upon discharge from the Intensive Care Unit (Ddis). Between D1 and Ddis, respiratory therapy was carried out according to the randomized group. Results We included 38 patients, 20 randomized to Positive Intermittent Pressure Group and 18 to Volumetric Incentive Spirometer Group. There was no significant gain related to vital capacity of D1 and Ddis of Positive Intermittent Pressure Group (mean 1,410mL±547.2 versus 1,809mL±692.3; p=0.979), as in the Volumetric Incentive Spirometer Group (1,408.3mL±419.1 versus 1,838.8mL±621.3; p=0.889). We observed a significant improvement in vital capacity in D1 (p<0.001) and Ddis (p<0.001) and in the Functional Independence Measure (p<0.001) after respiratory therapy. The vital capacity improvement was not associated with gain of muscle strength. Conclusion Chest therapy, with positive pressure and volumetric incentive spirometer, was effective in improving vital capacity of patients submitted to abdominal surgery.

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar a capacidade vital comparando duas técnicas de fisioterapia respiratória em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia abdominal. Métodos Estudo prospectivo e randomizado realizado com pacientes admitidos em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva após cirurgia abdominal. Verificamos a capacidade vital, a força muscular por meio da escala do Medical Research Council e funcionalidade pela Medida de Independência Funcional no primeiro momento em que o paciente encontrava-se em respiração espontânea (D1) e na alta da Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (Dalta). Entre D1 e Dalta, foi realizada a fisioterapia respiratória, conforme o grupo randomizado. Resultados Foram incluídos 38 pacientes, sendo 20 randomizados para Grupo Pressão Positiva Intermitente e 18 para o Grupo Incentivador Inspiratório a Volume. A capacidade vital entre o D1 e Dalta do Grupo Pressão Positiva Intermitente não teve ganho significativo (média de 1.410mL±547,2 versus 1.809mL±692,3; p=0,979), assim como no Grupo Incentivador Inspiratório a Volume (1.408,3mL±419,1 versus 1.838,8mL±621,3; p=0,889). Houve melhora significativa da capacidade vital no D1 (p<0,001) e na Dalta (p<0,001) e da Medida de Independência Funcional (p<0,001) após a fisioterapia respiratória. A melhora da capacidade vital não apresentou relação com o ganho da força muscular. Conclusão A fisioterapia respiratória, por meio de pressão positiva ou de incentivador inspiratório a volume, foi eficaz na melhora da capacidade vital em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia abdominal.

Low mechanical ventilation times and reintubation rates associated with a specific weaning protocol in an intensive care unit setting: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVES: A number of complications exist with invasive mechanical ventilation and with the use of and withdrawal from prolonged ventilator support. The use of protocols that enable the systematic identification of patients eligible for an interruption in mechanical ventilation can significantly reduce the number of complications. This study describes the application of a weaning protocol and its results. METHODS: Patients who required invasive mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours were included and assessed daily to identify individuals who were ready to begin the weaning process. RESULTS: We studied 252 patients with a median mechanical ventilation time of 3.7 days (interquartile range of 1 to 23 days), a rapid shallow breathing index value of 48 (median), a maximum inspiratory pressure of 40 cmH(2)0, and a maximum expiratory pressure of 40 cm H(2)0 (median). Of these 252 patients, 32 (12.7%) had to be reintubated, which represented weaning failure. Noninvasive ventilation was used postextubation in 170 (73%) patients, and 15% of these patients were reintubated, which also represented weaning failure. The mortality rate of the 252 patients studied was 8.73% (22), and there was no significant difference in the age, gender, mechanical ventilation time, and maximum inspiratory pressure between the survivors and nonsurvivors. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a specific weaning protocol resulted in a lower mechanical ventilation time and an acceptable reintubation rate. This protocol can be used as a comparative index in hospitals to improve the weaning system, its monitoring and the informative reporting of patient outcomes and may represent a future tool and source of quality markers for patient care.

Redução automática versus manual da pressão de suporte no desmame de pacientes em pós-operatório: estudo controlado e randomizado / Automatic versus manual pressure support reduction in the weaning of post-operative patients: a randomized controlled trial

INTRODUÇÃO: A redução automática da pressão de suporte (PS) baseada na freqüência respiratória, ou MRV (mandatory rate ventilation) é um modo ventilatório disponível no ventilador Taema-Horus. A hipótese do estudo é que o MRV utilizado no desmame é tão efetivo quanto o desmame manual em pacientes em pós-operatório na unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI). MÉTODOS: Ao chegar à UTI, após a cirurgia, os pacientes eram randomizados em dois grupos: desmame manual ou automático. O desmame manual consistiu na redução manual da PS a cada 30 minutos mantendo a relação freqüência respiratória sobre volume corrente menor do que 80, até a PS de 5-7 cmH2O. O desmame automático baseou-se na freqüência respiratória alvo de 15 respirações por minuto (o ventilador diminui automaticamente, a PS em 1 cm H2O a cada 4 ciclos respiratórios, se o paciente mantiver a freqüência respiratória abaixo deste valor). O objetivo primário do estudo foi comparar a duração do processo de desmame. Secundariamente verificamos o nível de PS, freqüência respiratória, volume corrente, índice de freqüência respiratória sobre volume corrente, pressão positiva expiratória final, fração inspirada de oxigênio e saturação de oxigênio requeridos durante o processo de desmame. Verificamos também necessidade de reintubação e necessidade de ventilação não invasiva nas primeiras 48 horas após a extubação. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferença estatística significativa entre os 53 pacientes selecionados em cada grupo quanto ao sexo (p=0541), idade (p=0,585) e tipo de cirurgia (p=0,172). Dezenove pacientes foram excluídos durante o protocolo (quatro no grupo manual e quinze no grupo automático, p<0,05). Nove pacientes do grupo automático foram excluídos do protocolo por não se adaptarem ao modo de desmame automático. Oitenta e sete pacientes concluíram o estudo, quarenta e nove pacientes foram desmamados manualmente e trinta e oito automaticamente. A duração do processo de desmame foi de 205,41±181,27 minutos...

Introduction: Automatic pressure support reduction based on a target respiratory frequency or MRV is available in the TAEMA-HORUS ventilator for the weaning process in the ICU setting. We hypothesized that MRV is as effective as manual weaning in post-operative ICU patients. Methods: There were 106 patients selected, in the post-operative period in a prospective, randomized, controlled protocol. When the patients arrived in the ICU after surgery, they were randomly assigned to traditional weaning, consisted of the manual reduction of pressure support every thirty minutes, keeping the RR/TV(L) < 80 till 5-7 cmH20 of PSV. Alternatively, they were assigned to automatic weaning, referring to MRV set with a respiratory frequency target of 15 breaths per minute (the ventilator automatically decreased the PSV level by 1 cmH20 every 4 respiratory cycles, if the patients RR was less than 15 per minute). The primary endpoint of the study was the duration of the weaning process. Secondary endpoints were levels of pressure support, respiratory rate, tidal volume (mL), RR/VT (L), PEEP levels FiO2 and SpO2 required during the weaning process, the need for reintubation and the need for non-invasive ventilation in the 48 hours after extubation. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the 53 patients selected for each group regarding gender (p=0.541), age (p=0.585) and type of surgery (p=0.172). Nineteen patients were excluded during the trial (4 in the PSV group and 15 in the MRV group, p<0.05). Eighty-seven patients concluded the study, forty-nine patients were weaned manually and thirtyeight automatically. The weaning duration process was 205.41 ± 181.27 minutes (30 to 840 minutes) for the manual group and 157. 33± 129.98 minutes (30 to 545 minutes) for MRV group (p=0.167). PSV levels were significantly higher and RR was lower in MRV compared to that of the PSV manual reduction (p<0.05). Reintubation was not required in either group....